Links we recommend​

The following list will grow as you and we add to them but for a start here are some we love. Click on the title of any of the below and you will be taken there in a new window.

The New York Review of Booksis an indispensable resource and a clear favourite for intelligent, informed expert discussion on a range of topics mostly but not always book related. It is always surprising when a new edition comes and on scanning the contents page the items you think are least interesting or not interesting at all turn out in fact to be a great read. Now available from Zinio to read on your portable device or subscribe to. Cheaper and greener than the paper version. You get it day and date with release from NY rather than a few weeks late.

Arts and Letters Dailyis a web site that has on its front page a par from print newspapers, journals, web sites and magazines from around the world. If you have interest in the taste you have been given you can click through to the source and read the entire essay or review. Again a wonderful resource.

The Conversation - after Andrew Jaspan left the Melbourne Age where he was Editor-in-Chief he teamed up with Jack Rejtman and with Melbourne University to put out an online resource which comes out daily and gives voice to an academic community throughout Australia and soon the world to discuss and inform readers on a wide range of topics which the writer has some demonstrated expertise and research history in. It must be a very different life for Andrew now that the pressure of delivering sales, advertisers and the needs of the advertisers has given way to open and honest discussion of ideas. Well worth the time to at least scan the daily topic list and read some of the usually well written, well argued essays.In a chauvinistic moment I am glad to see this enterprise coming out of Melbourne, Australia and feel it will gain momentum and prestige. And its free (to the reader).​Sian Prior writes a personal blog that is well worth a look from time to time. A mix of event reviews, tips on what is on and good and personal stories and memories, Sian has had a career in journalism and radio. She sings, plays instruments and teaches. And can.

The Guardian Australia has now established itself as another reliable news and culture resource with a daily feed to your inbox when you subscribe, for free.

For great coffee chat, advice and even to buy green and roasted beans or coffee equipment Coffee Snobs is what it sounds like, a site for all of the above and more.

John Capek, a very old school friend, well not that he's old but the friendship goes back to primary school, is a very talented musician apart from being an engineer and lots of other things has a blog site that is well worth visiting. Go to his site click on blog and roam about. You can sign up for email alerts.